Mandy Reviews: Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

ISBN #: 978-1599559063

Page Count: 280

Copyright: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

After her father's disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn't long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself. What Ella finds there starts a quest that will change her life and the entire kingdom.

With a supernatural twist on this beloved fairytale, it's a must read you'll never forget.

Mandy's Review:

I received this book through NetGalley last year and am just now getting around to reading and reviewing it.

The first thing I noticed right away was the cover. I love it. The colors, the artwork, the styling ... it all has that fairy tale feel to it and makes you want to pick it up and read it.

And, yes, Cinder and Ella is loosely based on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. Do not presume to think you'll recognize the classic while reading this story, though. The author has successfully written a book using Cinderella as a tool, but not retelling the same old story. This is a brand new story despite what few similarities there may be.

Cinder is the most responsible of the four sisters. She helps out mainly to keep the peace ... and she does it with a smile, if you can believe that. Eventually, though, Cinder leaves home to go work in the castle to earn money that is needed for the family during their father's absence. While there, the Prince woos Cinder. Is it true love? Is it meant-to-be? Or is it a devious evil scheme from a Prince who has only his selfish intentions at heart?

Ella is forgotten by her mother, especially after Cinder leaves for the palace. Ella brought this upon herself, I believe, since she rarely helped with her other sisters, ran errands or did chores around the house. Eventually, Ella, too, leaves Willow Top (their home) and travels to a neighboring town to start a new life. Unfortunately, though, due to Cinder's angst over not knowing where her sister is, a chivalrous knight initiates a search-and-rescue mission for the "lost" sister.

If you take an emotionally unstable mother, four sisters, a delusional father, a chivalrous knight, a dark Prince, magic trees, evil intentions and some romantic notions then you have the makings of this novel. There's also the classic good versus evil that is so prevelant in fairy tales ... I mean, that is what helps to make the fairy tale a fairy tale ... right? Overall, it's an interesting take an a well-known classic that will entertain you as you read it. I would recommend it to those who enjoy a fairy tale that isn't a fairy tale.